Adjustable trestle.



G. H. RATLEDGE, SR. ADJUSTABLE TRESTLE.

APPLIoATloN FILED JULY 27,1909.

Patented May 3, 1910.

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me/nto@ GEORGE H. RATLEDGE, SR., OF COLORADO SPRINGS, COLORADO.

ADJUSTABLE TRESTLE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 3, 1910.

Application filed July 27, 1909. Serial No. 509,827.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE H. RATLEDGE, Sr., a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Colorado Springs, in the county of El Paso and Stateof Colorado, have invented new and useful Improvements in AdjustableTrestles, of which the following is a specilication.

This invention relates to adjustable trestles primarily intended for useby mechanics, and the object of the invention is to provide a device ofthis character which may be easily and quickly arranged to any desiredheigit or which may be lowered when des1re With the above, and otherobjects in view, which will appear as the description progresses, theinvention resides in the novel construction and combination of partshereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings there has been illustrated a simple andpreferred embodiment of the device, and in which Figure 1 is a frontelevation of a trestle constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig.2 is an end elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a sectional view upon theline 3-3 Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a sectional view upon the line 4-4 Fig. 1.Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view upon the line 5-5 Fig. 1.

In the accompanying drawing the numeral 1 designates the improvedadjustable trestle. The trestle 1 comprises essentially an inner and anouter frame, designated respectively by the numerals 2 and 3. The frame2 is p the stationary element of the device and comprises a pair ofvertical standards 4 connected b a horizontal beam 5.

By re erence to Fig. 5 of the drawings, it will be noted that thestandards 4, upon each of the sides of the frame 2 are constructed of apair of members suit-ably s aced apart and connected at their topportion through the medium of a horizontal member 5 and at their bottomportions through the medium of suitable feet 6 arranged transversely ofthe said members. The side standards 4 are each rovided with suitablesubstantially V-shape brace members 7 connecting the top horizontalmember 5, and whereby a stron and rigid frame is provided. Thehorizontal member 5 of the frame 2 is adapted to extend a suitabledistance beyond the ends of the standards 4, for

a purpose hereinafter to be set forth, and the frame 2 is provided atits top and adj acent its ends with suitable transversely arrangedrecesses which are adapted for the reception of bales 8, the purpose ofwhich will be hereinafter fully described.

The outer frame 3 comprises a pair of vertical standards 9 and 10 whichare connected at their upper edges through the medium of a longitudinalconnecting bar or beam 11. The standards 9 have their outer facesprovided for a suitable distance with a plurality of spaced teeth 12while their inner faces are provided with vertically extending grooves13, and the said grooves 13 are adapted for the reception of theextending portions of the horizontal member 5 of the frame 2, while theteeth 12 are adapted to be engaged by the bales 8 also carried by theframe 2. The lower extremities of the standards 9 are each bifurcated asat 14 and these bifurcations are adapted to provide a reception for thelongitudinally extending hollow bar 15 which has its ends provided withsuitable washers or offsets whereby the said bar 15 is effectivelyretained upon the outer faces of the standards 9. It is to be understoodthat the hollow bar 15 projects between the s aced standards 4 of theframe 2, and the ar 15 preferably comprises a hollow cross-sectionallycircular member for the reception of a handle 16.

The standards 9 and 10 are provided with substantially V-shaped bracemembers 17, of a similar' construction to the brace members 7,heretofore described in connection with the frame 2, and the said bracemember 17 securely connects the top longitudinal bar 11 with the saidstandards 9 and 10.

The longitudinal member 5 of the frame 2 is provided with a pair ofdepending eye members 18, and these members are adapted for thereception of a suitable cable 19 which has its end wound around the rodor shaft 15, as clearly shown in Fig. 1 ofthe drawings.

In operating the device, it is merely necessary to revolve the handle16, so as to rotate the bar or shaft 15, thus coiling the cables 19around the said bar, and as the ends of the rod or shaft 15 contact thehorizontal wall provided by the bifurcations 14, the outer frame 3 willbe caused to ride upwardly upon the inner frame 2, as illustrated by thedotted lines in Fig. 1. It will be noted that the bales 8 willautomatically engage with the teeth 12 of the standards 9 when the frame1 is elevated Vand thus effectively retain the said frame in its raisedposition. When it is desired to lower the frame 3 upon the frame 2, itis merely necessary to disengage the bales 8 from the teeth 12 when theframe 3, owing to its weight will descend to its initial position uponthe frame 2.

From the above description taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, the advantages of construction and method of operation will beapparent to those skilled in the art to which the device appertains, andit will be noted that both the longitudinal connecting` members 11 and 5may be employed as a support for the boards or timbers affording ascaffold and that, if desired the frames 2 and 3 may be readily andeasily disconnected from each other by merely sliding the said armsapart, and it is to be further understood that while I have describedthe preferred structure of the apparatus which I now consider the bestembodiment thereof, I desire to have it understood that the apparatusShown is merely illustrative and that minor details within the scope ofthe following claim may be resorted to if desired.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is In atrestle of the class described, an outer and an inner frame, said outerframe being slidably connected with the inner frame, the sides of theinner frame comprising a pair of spaced members, the upper connectingbar of the inner frame projecting beyond the side members, the outerframe having its vertical members provided with teeth upon their outerfaces, and with vertical grooves upon their inner faces, the grooves ofthe outer frame being adapted or the reception of the projections of theinner frame, Vthe lower portions of the side members of the outer framebeing bifur-' cated, a shaft connecting the upper walls provided by thebifurcations and extending through the spaced vertical members of theinner frame, a bar for the shaft, a flexible connection between theshaft and the top bar of the inner frame, and loosely mounted bal-esupon the inner frame 'adapted to contact the teeth of the outer frame.

In testimony whereof I aix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE I-I. RATLEDGE, SR.

Witnesses:

A. J. LAW'roN, CHESTER I. DALE.

